Motive mechanism utilizing catalytically decomposable material



Aug. 5, 1952 2,605,609

' R. R. BUSH MOTIVE MECHANISM UTILIZING CATALYTICALLY DECOMPOSABLE MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1950 Inventor". "Ralph E. Bus h His Attlorneg.

l atentecl Aug. 5, 1952 MOTIVE MECHANISM UTILIZING CATA- LYTICALLY DECOMPOSABLE MATERIAL Ralph R. Bush, Havertown, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 14, 1950, Serial No. 184,850

6 Claims. (Cl. 60-37) This invention relates to motive mechanisms utilizing catalytically decomposible material and more particularly to apparatus for intermingling such decomposable material with a suitable catalyst for the purpose of liberating useful energy in the form of instantaneously generated pressure gas.

Power for operating devices such as large capacity electric circuit breakers, for example, is commonly obtained from electric solenoids or motors, pneumatic operating means, and sometimes from mechanisms actuated by an explosive charge such as gun powder. Electric solenoids and motors inherently are too slow in operation for very high speed circuit breakers. Pneumatic mechanisms of necessity require a great amount of space for the pressure reservoir, compressor, valves, and control mechanism. Furthermore, pneumatic mechanisms are costly and complicated and are subject to improper operation due to moisture and other factors. Mechanisms operated from explosive charges are inherently dangerous and require a certain degree of vigilance on the part of maintenance and operating personnel.

An object of this invention is to provide a motive mechanism which is rapid and reliable in operation and which is compact and relatively inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a motive mechanism utilizing decomposable material for generating gas and which is provided with an arrangement for rendering the decomposable material harmless should undesired decomposition by inadvertent contamination occur.

Still another object of the invention is to pro.- vide a motive mechanism utilizing decomposable material as itssource of energy and which is arranged to cause a desired intermingling of the decomposable material with a suitable catalyst in order to effect the liberation of energy by gas generation therefrom.

According to the invention, a predetermined quantity of decomposable liquid is forced into contact with a suitable catalyst by means of a small piston-type pump or injector having suitable motivating means. Some of the pressure gas produced due to the intermingling of the decomposable material with the catalyst is directed back behind the injector piston in such a way as to aid the working movement thereof. Since impurities which may be present in, or which inadvertently enter into the decomposable material stored in a suitable reservoir, may cause undesired gas pressure from the decomposition thereof, an emergency discharge passageway is provided through which is effectively diverted the decomposable material into a diluting overflow chamber in response to the build-up of excessive pressure in the reservoir thereby to render the discharged decomposable material harmless as well as providing pressure relief for the generated gas.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure thereof is a schematic representation of apparatus embodying the invention. While the arrangement shown in the drawing and to be described hereinafter comprises an operating mechanism adapted to motivate electric circuit breakers, it will be understood that the invention also is applicable to other types of apparatus as well.

In the drawing the circuit breaker generally indicated by the numeral I is motivated to the closed position by means of the fluid motor generally indicated by the numeral 2. Energy in the form of generated gas for operating fluid motor 2 is derived from the intermingling of'a suitable decomposable liquid material normally stored in the reservoir generally indicated by the numeral 3 with the catalytic material 4. A predetermined chargeof decomposable material derived from the reservoir 3 is supplied to the catalyst 4 by means of the pump mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 5.

Circuit breaker l is schematically represented and includes a pair of fixed contacts 6, a movable bridging contact I and a latch mechanism 8. Latch 8 is biased toward the latching position and is motivated to the tripping position by means of .the electromagnetic device 9 which derives energy from the current transformer ID, the primary winding of which is in series with the contacts of the circuit breaker. Thus when latch 9 is tripped due to some abnormal current condition, bridging member 1 moves downwardly under the bias of gravity or suitable springs to the open position indicated in the drawing.

Circuit breaker l is moved to the closed position by upward movement of piston II which reciprocates in the cylinder [2 provided with a suitable exhaust port [3. Thus when adequate gas pressure is applied below piston l I, the piston and its operating rod move upwardly to close the circuit breaker. After the piston I I uncovers the port l3, residual pressure is exhausted to atmosphere.

Gas pressure below the piston II 'is provided proceeds.

according to the invention by injecting a predetermined amount of decomposable liquid material derived from the reservoir 3 into the enclosure I4 containing catalytic material 4. When a suitable decomposable material comes in contact with the catalytic material 4, gases are given off principally in the form of steam, if hydrogen peroxide is the decomposable material used. 'This pressure is applied through outlet means comprising the perforated wall I5 of enclosure I4 into the space below the piston II which thereafter effectively causes upward operating movement of the piston.

While there are a number of decomposable materials and catalysts which may be used, I have found that hydrogen peroxide H202 is a very satisfactory medium. This peroxide normally should be 90% concentrated. A suitable catalyst is calcium permanganate [Ca(MnO4)zl. The calcium permanganate mass 4 preferably is rendered foraminous, for rapid reaction, by the use of conventional small ceramic pellets onto which a permanganate'coating has been deposited. Other suitable catalysts include permanganates of sodium, potassium and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, silver and platinum, pref erably in granulated form would efiectively cause decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

The appropriate charge of decomposable material is forced from the pump 5 through the conduit I6 and the inlet port IT to the enclosure I4 where intermingling with the catalyst takes place. Check valves such as I8 and I8 preferably should be included in the conduit I6 for the purpose of preventing the flow of undesirable back pressure from the chamber I4.

Decomposable material is forced through the conduit I6 from the pump 5 into enclosure I4 by means of downward motion of. piston I9 riding in its cooperating cylinder the volume of which constitutes one operating charge of the liquid. Since hydrogen peroxide has a corrosive effect on many materials, the cylinder 2|] and the jacket 2I for the pump piston I9 preferably should be constructed of pure aluminum or high grade stainless steel. 'I-Iy'drogen peroxide is drawn from reservoir 3 into cylinder through conduit 22 in which a check valve 23'is provided. 'Check valve 23 is necessary to prevent any back now of they charge of decomposable material when it is being forced from the cylinder 20. Preferably a passage 24 should be provided to avoid the possibility of vapor locks and also to insure that the interior of cylinder 29 would be filled with a full charge of decomposable material whenever the piston is returned. to its normal uppermost position indicated in the drawing.

From the description thus far, it willbe obvious that downward motion of the pump piston 19 will force a predetermined quantity or charge of hydrogen peroxide upwardly through conduit I6 through inlet means I! andinto the gas generating'enclosure I4.

While any suitable drive mechanism could be utilized for imparting downward motion to the pump piston I9, I have illustrated a spring actuated means for this purpose which normally 'is prevented from operating the piston by suitable latch means. 'For maintaining the pistonin itsuppermost, position, the latch 25 is arranged so as normally to engage the shoulder 26 of the enlarged head of piston 20. Thus, the piston 20 really constitutes a differential piston for a purpose which will become evident as the description Latch 25 is movable inthe counter .21,v clockwise direction about its supporting pivot 21 by means of the manually operable handle 28. Obviously handle 28 could be operated automatically, or by any suitable control means, if desired. Furthermore the normal position of latch 25 could be determined by a suitable stop together with biasing means for holding the latch against the stop. The drive spring 29 encircles the cylindrical iron member 39 which constitutes a pole piece of the magnetic circuit about the associated solenoid coil the purpose of which soon will become clear. The pole piece 39 is secured to the 'magnetic frame structure 33 by any suitable means such as a bolt 3|. The spring 29 exerts its downward urge upon the iron pump piston I9 (which also constitutes a movable magnetic armature) through a conventional non-magnetic metallic washer 34 for preventing actual contact between the cooperating magnetic members. This washer, perforated to minimize suction effect thereon, is anchored to the pole piece by the bolt or screw 32 which permits but a limited thrust by the spring 29 which may terminate, for example, at the half-stroke of piston I9 when the washeri i encounters the head of thescrew 32, it beingunderstood that the piston continues down until arrested by engaging the bottom ,wall 35 of the enclosing housing. Thus, when resetting, the spring 29 offers no initial opposition to the returnupward movement of the armature piston I9 so that its magnetic pick-up is thereby facilitated.

For the purpose of resetting the piston I9, I have indicated electromagnetic means comprising the coil 36 which establishes an effective magnetic path through the iron frame structure 33, the pole piece 3il and the armature piston I9. Thuswhen coil 36 'is energized by suitable means not shown, the piston I9 is elevated to its upper latched positionas shown.

For the purpose of aiding the spring '29 in imparting downward movement to the pump piston I9, a feedback conduit 31 is used. Feedback conduit 31 communicates at one end with the portion of cylinder I2 of fluid motor 2 which is below the operatin'g'piston I I, while theother end of feedback conduit 31 communicates with the space above theupper and greater surface of the differential pump piston I9. Thus, when pressure is generated below the lower surface of the drive piston II to operate the circuit breaker, such pressure feeds back to apply an operating downward force on the pump piston I9 which, because of the difference in upper and lower a-reas,'produces a preponderating downward force even after the spring action has ceased near the half-stroke position as described.

During the downward stroke, pressure build-up in the space below the head of the differential piston I9 is relieved to atmosphere through the "vent' 38 which also serves as a drain in the event that liquid seeps upward into this space beyond the packing provided for the "piston as shown. Thus, back pressure at this'point is minimized.

Reservoir 3 includes a chamber 39 having a removable cover 49. Chamber 39, of 'coursacommunicates with conduit 22 and may conveniently tentsof the main chamber may discharge in an emergency as will appear later. Chamber 39 is constructed to receive conveniently therein and substantially as a part thereof a removable container such as 46 which is'provided with a cover 41. Chamber 46 could be a conventional commercial shipping container for hydrogen peroxide and is so illustrated. Flexibl syntheticrubber cover 41 is slit before shipment so as to constitute a simple safety valve to relieve any pressures that may be generated during shipment. Thus the upstanding pipe 48 which is aflixed to the cover 49 of overflow chamber 43, readily passes through the slit in cover 41 and opens up the ends thereof as'shown to provide communication for the liquid so that it may pass from the container 46 to the main chamber 39. Thus when it is desired to condition the apparatus for operation, the cover 40 having been removed, the container 46 filled with hydrogen peroxide would be inserted in an inverted position into the main chamber 39 when the pipe 48 would simply penetrate through the slit in the cover 41. Thereafter the container 46 would be lowered to the desired position and supported thereat by any suitable means such as the pedestals 4| after which the cover 40 would be replaced. The liquid decomposable material would assume a common level throughout thedevice such as is indicated within the container 46, the chamber 39 and the conduit l6 inasmuch as flow of the material from within container 46 to the outside thereof is provided for through the slit cover as already described. A restricted vent or metering means 50 is provided in the upper end of pipe 48 in accordance with the safety feature of my invention as will now be explained.

Impurities such as inorganic materials that may inadvertently enter the decomposable material may tend to cause undesired decomposition thereof resulting in gas accumulating within the container 46. If such decomposition occurs and if the rate thereof is within safe limits, the allowable safe pressure generated thereby would be harmlessly relieved through the small vent 50 and pipe 48 to the space above the diluting fluid in overflow chamber 43 and thence through an opening therein to atmosphere as indicated at I. Here it should be understood that vent 56 must be of appropriate size to pass off to atmospher predetermined permissible pressures and is in effect a metered flow passage. On the other hand, higher pressures will not be freely relieved therethrough. Should then the pressure generated within container 46, due to impurities in the decomposable material or for other reasons, be greater than could be relieved adequately through the metered vent 50, such accumulated pressure would force liquid through the slit cover 41, chamber 39, and opening 44 into the diluting liquid in the overflow tank 43. The effect of the diluting liquid would be to render the decomposable material harmless. In this way, destructive pressures are always relieved and the dangerous liquid neutralized in accordance with one feature of the invention. The apparatus should be arranged so that the inlet I1 is at a safe level above the opening 44 so that the decomposable material will not be forced into contact with the catalytic material 4 when abnormal pressure is developed in chamber 39 Or container 46.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, I do notwish to be limited thereto, and in the appended claims I intend to cover all such modifications of the invention as fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A motive mechanism comprising catalytic material, an enclosure for said catalytic material having inlet means and outlet means, a pump including a piston and a cylinder, a reservoir containing decomposable material, conduit means interconnecting said pump with said reservoir and with said inlet means, valve means in said conduit means for preventing reverse flow of said decomposable material from said pump to said reservoir and from said enclosure to said pump, actuating means for initiating working movement of said piston, feedback conduit means communicating with said outlet means and said piston and arranged to supply pressure to said piston thereby to aid said actuating means in imparting working movement to said piston, said piston being constructed with one end larger than the other end so that one working face thereof which is exposed to pressure supplied through said feedback conduit means is greater than the other working face thereof which is exposed to said decomposable material, and an opening leading from said cylinder for affording an escape passage for fluid compressed in said cylinder by said one end of said piston and for allowing the escape of any portion of said decomposable material which leaks by said piston from said other end thereof to the portion of said cylinder which cooperates with said one end of said piston.

2. A motive mechanism comprising a reservoir containing decomposable material, a pump having a cylinder in communication with said reservoir and a piston movable from one position to an operated position, an enclosure in communication with said cylinder and having outlet means, catalytic means in said enclosure capable of decomposing said decomposable material upon contact therewith due to movement of said piston to its operated position, electromagnet means including a coil and a pole piece for returning said piston to said one position, a feedback conduit in communication with said outlet means and said piston for supplying pressure to said piston tending to move said piston to its operated position, perforated non-magnetic means interposed between said pole piece and said piston for preventing the magnetic attraction between said piston and said pole piece from materially interfering with movement of said piston from said one position, the perforations of said non-magnetic means being for the purpose of preventing pneumatic sealing of said non-magnetic means to said piston due to pressure supplied to said piston through said feedback conduit.

3. A motive mechanism comprising a main chamber containing a decomposable liquid, an overflow chamber containing a diluting fluid, a passage leading from said main chamber to said overflow chamber so that abnormal pressure in said main chamber will force liquid through said passage into said overflow chamber, an enclosure containing catalytic material, means for forcing liquid from said main chamber into contact with said catalyst, and metered venting means affording limited communication between the space above the liquid in said main chamber and said overflow chamber.

4. A motive mechanism comprising a main chamber, a removable container disposed in said main chamber and having an opening in the lower portion thereof, said main chamber and said container having therein a decomposable aeoaeoe liquid,an overflow chamber containing diluting fluid, means including a passage for conveying liquid to said overflow chamber in response to abnormal pressure within said container and said main chamber, a vent tube extending through the opening in said container and affording metered communication'between the space above the liquid in-said container and said overflow chamber, .an enclosure containing catalytic material, and means for forcing liquid from said main chamber into contact with said catalyst.

i 5. A motive mechanism comprising a reservoir containing decomposable material, a pump having a cylinder in communication with said reservoir and a piston movable from one'position to an operated position, an enclosure in communication with-said cylinder and having outlet means, catalytic means in said enclosure capable of decomposing said decomposable material upon contact therewith due to movement of said piston to its operated position, electro-mag-net means including a coil and a pole piece for returning said piston to said one position, and non-magnetic means interposed between said pole piece and said piston for preventing the magnetite attraction between said piston and said pole piece from materially interfering with movement of said piston-from said one position.

6. A motive mechanism comprising a reservoir containing decomposable material, a pump having a cylinder in communication with said reservoir, and a piston movable from one position to an operated position, an enclosure in communication with said cylinder and having fering with movement of saidpiston from sa d one position, the perforations of said non-ma 'netic means being for the purpose of preventing pneumatic sealing .of said non-magnetic means to said piston due to pressure supplied to said piston through said feedback conduit.

RALPH R. BUSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 250,190 Benton Nov. 29, 1881 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 625,104 France Apr. 19, 1927 OTHER REFERENCES Journal of the American Rocket Society, No. 80, March 1950 pages '6 to 11.

Power Plant Engineering, January 1947, pages '78 and 79. 

